caterpillars.

there we were, gathered around the benches outside the center. anticipation.

"okay, now we have to all sit down either on the curb or on a bench because we don't wanna squish them if they land on the ground," said the teacher. "sit down, please."

a couple of kids plonked themselves down right in front of her. "you guys are gonna have to find a spot on the bench or the curb," the teacher repeated, "because we wanna make sure they all get to fly away." eventually everyone got settled, and all eyes were on the white net-covered enclosure the teacher had in her hands.

"now, why are we all out here?" the teacher asked. "to let them... to let them fly away!" said bayan. "that's right," the teacher said with a smile. "we're gonna let the butterflies fly away. who remembers what these butterflies are called?" "butterflies... fly... painted ladies!" said marston triumphantly, flinging his arms out wide.

"good job, marston! painted ladies... who can remember what these butterflies were when we first got them?" "butterflies," replied jp, looking quizically at the teacher. the teacher laughed. "no, they were itty-bitty caterpillars, remember? we fed them, and watched them grow bigger, and then they formed cocoons, and then when they came out they were painted ladies! and now we're gonna let them go, because they wanna fly among the flowers."

the teacher opens the enclosure carefully, trying to get the butterflies out without making them fly away before they were ready. "oh, there goes one! bye butterfly!" she exclaimed. "bye butterfly, bye bye!" the children all chimed in, eyes wide. another butterfly flopped to the ground. "uh-oh, keep your feet on the benches please," the teacher said. "maybe this butterfly needs to dry its wings first."

soon all the butterflies had flown away. "well, there they go... they look happy among the flowers," the teacher said. "yeah..." said the kids, looking at the butterflies darting around the bushes.

"are you gonna let the caterpillars go now?" asked marston, looking at the teacher. the teacher smiled. "no, because the caterpillars have turned into butterflies. it's kinda like how you are going to to turn into adults when you grow up... now you're caterpillars. caterpillars turn into butterflies, and children turn into adults. does that make sense?"

the sound of an approaching schoolbus distracted the children, so marston never said if he understood. "schoolbus, schoolbus!" "hi schoolbus!" they jump around, excited. the big kids walked past us, into the building... bigger caterpillars too important for the little caterpillars. the schoolbus drove away. "bye schoolbus, bye bye!" the kids waved vigorously. "bye bye!"

the children stare at the schoolbus until it turned a corner. and then they looked at the teacher expectantly. "let's go play in the playground, shall we?" the teacher asked. "yeah!" the kids said, rushing towards the door, eager to get on a tricycle, or snag a ball, or play in the sandbox, or go down the slide, or just run.

none of them looked back at the butterflies.